Agenda and draft minutes

None.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting held on 26 June 2025.

RESOLVED – that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 26 June 2025 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To inform Licensing Committee members of the statutory requirement to review the current Statement of Licensing Policy and to seek approval to commence a six-week public consultation with relevant bodies and stakeholders.

The Service Delivery Manager - Registrars, Public Protection, Legal & Democracy presented the review of the current Statement of Licensing Policy and sought authorisation to circulate for consultation the draft Statement of Licensing Policy 2026-2031. The policy would then be submitted to the Committee with any suggested amendments for its adoption at Full Council in January 2026.

The Statement of Licensing Policy was regularly reviewed and revised by Members and the Licensing Act 2003 required the Policy to be reviewed previously every three years, but the requirement had now been changed to every five years.

A consultation had taken place in accordance with Section 182 of the Licensing Act 2003 having regard to Home Office guidance which was fairly common and reflected best practice.  The Policy related to all responsibilities under the Licensing Act and included personal licenses, premises licenses, club premises certificates and temporary event notices.  

The existing Policy had not changed significantly but it included new sections and updates and incorporated updated s182 guidance that reflected matters the Committee had considered over recent years.  The draft Policy introduced reference to the Licensing Security and Vulnerability Initiative (LSAVI) accreditation schemes and acknowledged alternative schemes such as Best Bar None which emphasised best practice around safety for women and vulnerable persons, the increasing use of digital ID and expanded the guidance on the Live Music Act.  Members were familiar with the 2012 Act which contained the conditions relating to live music and if issues arose a request could be made to vary the licence, re-impose conditions, limit the licensed hours or remove the licensed music from a premises licence.

Included within the Policy was further information in relation to responsible authorities making it clearer who they were and how they worked within the guidance.  It reflected the strong partnership working and aimed to encourage a more joined-up approach.  Having a clear policy was important to support any decision the Committee may make such as modifying conditions, excluding licensable activities or revoking a licence.  The Policy was a useful tool and ensured decisions were made correctly. 

A six-week consultation would be undertaken, and the draft policy had been published on the Council’s consultation portal.  Stakeholders, including all responsible authorities and licensing premises across the borough would be contacted and a more proactive approach would be taken to encourage responses. Following the consultation, Officers would review all of the submissions received and create a final draft Policy which would come back to Committee to decide whether to recommend to Full Council for adoption.

During the debate, some Members asked, in relation to live music, whether Telford and Wrekin Council applying in its own right was a variance to the previous Policy and, in relation to Section 14 of the Policy, how would the removal of a DPS work for a volunteer committee.  Other Members asked if a working group could be set up in order that they could gain more understanding of the Policy and to look at the information that was received  ...  view the full minutes text for item LIC7